Hebrews 4:12 – Dividing Asunder of Soul and Spirit – Part 2

[Study Aired August 20, 2024]

IV. The Concept of the ‘Inner Man’

Paul often refers to the ‘inner man’, which encompass aspects of both soul and spirit:

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)

This concept of the ‘inner man’ being renewed suggests an ongoing process of spiritual growth and transformation.

Job also spoke of the inward and the heart.

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (Job 38:36)

Psalms 64 tells us more about the heart.

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” (Psalms 64:1-10)

“Who whet their tongue like a sword”, a two-edge sword, they use the word of God attempting to destroy Christ and his christs. “The heart is deep” is telling us how our ways as the old man are desperately wicked. The deep is the bottomless pit in which the beast ascends discussed in Revelation 11.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.” (Revelation 11:1-10)

The ‘inner man,’ which Paul speaks about is contrasted with the ‘outward man’ in 2 Corinthians 4:16:

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

This inner man is central to spiritual growth and transformation.

Again in Job 38:36 similar these concepts are mentioned:

“Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?”

This verse links the inward parts and the heart to wisdom and understanding. Here are the answers to these questions.

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions [dividing asunder of soul and spirit] of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest [ by dividing asunder of soul and spirit] to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily [dividing asunder of soul and spirit]. (Colossians 1:24-29)

Psalm 64 provided further insight into the heart’s nature. It describes those who “whet their tongue like a sword” (verse 3) and notes that “the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep” (verse 6). The psalm concludes with “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory” (verse 10), showing a contrast between different heart conditions.

These passages collectively suggest that the ‘inner man’ or ‘heart’ is complex and is oriented towards both good and evil. It’s portrayed as a source of thoughts, words, and actions, and its condition is closely tied to one’s relationship with God.

The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of this inner aspect of a person. As Proverbs 4:23 states,

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.“

This underscores the central role of the heart in determining one’s spiritual state and actions.

By comparing these scriptures, we see a consistent biblical theme of an inner spiritual reality that is distinct from, yet connected to, our physical existence. This inner man or heart is presented as the core of a person’s spiritual life and the focus of spiritual renewal and growth.

V. The Holy Spirit’s Role

The holy spirit plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of believers, interacting with and empowering our spirit:

(Romans 8:16) “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

This verse reveals an intimate connection between the holy spirit and our spirit. The holy spirit “bears witness” or testifies, confirming our identity as God’s children. This suggests a profound spiritual communion and alignment between God’s Spirit and our spirit.

Throughout Scripture, the holy spirit is depicted as the source of spiritual empowerment, wisdom, and transformation for believers. For example:

(Acts 1:8) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Here, Jesus promises his disciples that the holy spirit will equip them with the necessary power to fulfill their calling as witnesses. The holy spirit is seen as the divine enabler, giving us abilities to carry out God’s purposes.

In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, Paul further clarifies the Spirit’s role:

“But God hath revealed them (the princes of this world vs.8) unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.“

This passage highlights the spirit’s ability to reveal the “deep things of God” to our spirit, imparting God’s understanding and knowledge. The holy spirit is seen as the conduit through which believers come to know the things of God.

Additionally, the spirit is credited with the work of sanctification and transformation within the believer. It is through Christ that we receive the spirit of the Father which was given to Christ:

(John 14:10-1) “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”

(2 Corinthians 3:18) “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

These verses indicate that the holy spirit actively works to conform believers into the image of Christ, a process of ongoing spiritual growth and maturation.

In summary, the biblical witness presents the holy spirit as intimately involved with our spirit, empowering, revealing, and transforming believers from within, as they cooperate with the spirit’s work. This underscores the essential role of the spirit in the spiritual life and development of God’s people.

VI. The Relationship Between Soul and Spirit and Body

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays:

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

Paul distinguishing between spirit, soul, and body in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it’s important to consider this in the broader context of his teachings, particularly 1 Corinthians 15:44-45:

(1 Corinthians 15:44-45) “It is sown as a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

Paul emphasizes the complete sanctification of believers, encompassing all aspects of their being – spirit, soul, and body. While Paul speaks of preserving the whole person “unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he’s not necessarily implying all believers will be alive at Christ’s return. Rather, he’s expressing the hope of Christ’s return as a present reality for all believers, whether alive or dead at that time.

In light of 1 Corinthians 15:44-45, we can understand that Paul recognizes both the present “natural body” and the future “spiritual body.” The prayer for preservation of the body in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 encompasses both the present physical body and the future resurrected body.

The reference to Adam as a “living soul” and Christ as a “quickening spirit” in 1 Corinthians 15:45 adds depth to our understanding of “spirit and soul” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. It suggests a progression from the natural, soul-driven life to the spiritual, Christ-empowered existence.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)”And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

Paul’s language implies both continuity (preservation) and transformation (sanctification) of the believer’s entire being in preparation for Christ’s return and the resurrection.

In conclusion, while 1 Thessalonians 5:23 does suggest Paul’s hope for Christ’s imminent return, it should be understood within the broader context of his teachings on resurrection and transformation. The verse expresses the desire for complete sanctification of believers in their current state, while also pointing towards their future glorified state at Christ’s return, whether they are alive or have died and will be resurrected.

Isaiah 26:9 provides a rich metaphor for the spiritual journey, illustrating the interconnected yet distinct roles of soul and spirit:

(Isaiah 26:9) “With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”

The soul’s desire for God in the night represents an innate longing for the soulish (another Jesus) while full understanding is lacking.

(2 Corinthians 11:4) “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

This aligns with John 3:19-21, where darkness is associated with a state before coming to the light of truth.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

The spirit seeking God “early” or “at dawn” implies a more active, conscious pursuit of God as spiritual understanding begins to grow.

This mirrors 2 Peter 1:19, which speaks of heeding prophecy “as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”

The verse suggests a progression from the soul’s desire to the spirit’s seeking, mirroring the journey from spiritual darkness to light.

This progression is reflected in Ephesians.

(Ephesians 5:8) “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

While distinct, soul and spirit work in tandem, reminiscent of how Psalm 119:105 describes God’s word as both “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” guiding both immediate steps and overall direction.

“NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

The latter part of Isaiah 26:9 suggests that both soul and spirit respond to God’s self-revelation in the world.

“With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9)

This parallels 2 Corinthians 4:6:

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The use of both soul and spirit emphasizes the holistic nature of spiritual experience, involving emotional, instinctive, and cognitive aspects of our being.

This holistic approach is seen in Romans 13:12:

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”

The metaphor of night and early morning represents the cyclical nature of spiritual life, with periods of lesser and greater understanding. Also, the separation of light and darkness is one of many symbols of “dividing asunder the soul and spirit”.

This cycle is reflected in Proverbs 4:18:

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.“

In conclusion, Isaiah 26:9 illustrates the journey from spiritual darkness (night) to the beginning of understanding (dawn), mirroring the broader biblical theme of moving from darkness to light (Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13). It shows how the soul is in darkness and cannot seek God and the spirit is engaged in seeking God, progressing from death, lack of spiritual understanding, to a more enlightened pursuit, ultimately leading to a state where, as Jesus said, “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

(Act 26:18) “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)

VII. The Division of Soul and Spirit

Returning to our key verse:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

This verse presents God’s Word as capable of dividing soul and spirit. But what does this division mean, and why is it significant?

To understand this division, we must consider the principle of spiritual discernment:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The division of soul and spirit represents the process of distinguishing between natural, soulish, carnally minded inclinations and spiritual truths. It’s part of the transformative work of God’s Word in a believer’s life.

Jesus often spoke in parables, and Scripture contains symbolic meaning:

(Matthew 13:13) “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Viewing the division of soul and spirit through this lens, we understand it as a metaphor for the internal process of spiritual growth and discernment.

The Old Testament often presents types and shadows of spiritual realities:

“Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:17)

The concept of dividing soul and spirit should be seen as a “shadow” of the deeper spiritual work that God’s Word accomplishes in us.

VIII. The Interplay of Soul, Spirit, and Body

To fully grasp the complex relationship between soul, spirit, and body, we must consider Paul’s view in 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This verse suggests an intricate interplay between these three aspects of mankind, each playing a crucial role in our spiritual life and development.

Scripture presents the body as multifaceted in its spiritual significance:

Temple of the Holy Spirit:

(1 Corinthians 6:19) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

Instrument for God’s glory:

(Romans 12:1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Subject to resurrection:

(1 Corinthians 15:44) “It is sown as a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

Venue for spiritual warfare:

(2 Corinthians 10:1-6) “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

(1 Corinthians 9:27) “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

The transformation of the body is intrinsically linked to the renewal of the mind and spirit:

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

This renewal process involves aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and actions with spiritual truths, demonstrating the interconnectedness of body, soul, and spirit.

The concept of offering our bodies as living sacrifices encompasses various aspects:

Yielding to righteousness:

(Romans 6:13) “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.“

Practicing self-control:

(1 Corinthians 9:24) “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Serving others:

(Galatians 5:13) “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.“

Maintaining purity:

(2 Corinthians 7:1) “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Several passages suggest a strong connection between physical and mental/spiritual states:

(Colossians 3:1-7)  “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.”

This connection implies that the body can serve as a physical manifestation of our spiritual and mental state.

The interplay between soul, spirit, and body in Scripture reveals a holistic view of mankind’s nature. The body is presented as sacred, purposeful, and integral to spiritual life, serving as both a temple for God’s spirit and an instrument for His service. The transformation of the body is linked to the renewal of the mind and spirit, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these aspects. By presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, we engage in a process of aligning our entire being – body, soul, and spirit – with God’s will, demonstrating the profound unity of our physical and spiritual nature in the pursuit of holiness and service to God. Keeping in mind that “the soul that sinneth it shall die”. We must be born again into a new body with a new mind.

(1 Corinthians 15:35-49) “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

Link to Hebrews 4:12 Part 1

Link to Hebrews 4:12 Part 3

Dan 11:1-4  Be ye not troubled – Part 1

[Study Aired May 9, 2024]

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. 
Dan 11:2  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia. 
Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. 

The question asked of Daniel in Daniel 10:17, “How can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me“, was written for the elect’s benefit to remind us that unless the Lord builds our spiritual house we will remain in our sins and not overcome (Psa 127:1, Joh 8:24), however if the son of man sets us free we will be free indeed and have the spiritual strength through Christ, via God’s spirit, to be able to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It takes His strength and His spirit, typified by the breath of life, in order for us to fulfill God’s will on this earth (Rom 12:2) as it is done in heaven (Joh 8:36,  Joh 8:31-32, Php 2:12-13). 

Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The answer to Daniel’s question, “How can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?” (Dan 10:17), is to be given the gift of the holy spirit (Rom 8:9, Eph 2:8), typified by what we read when Daniel is strengthened by an angel, a messenger, and in particular by the words that were spoken to him (Dan 10:18-21, Joh 6:63). 

Dan 10:19  And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

As we will see later in this 11th chapter of Daniel, many people do exploits (Rev13:13) in the churches of Babylon (Dan 11:28, Dan 11:32, Jas 1:22-25, Mat 24:46-47, Rom 2:13, Rom 12:1-2). However, it will only be a small remnant who is given to understand that the physical exploits of Babylon are for the elect’s sake (2Co 4:15), and typify for us the spiritual exploits God is accomplishing within the few who are having their eyes and ears open spiritually in this age (Mat 24:24, Joh 5:20, Joh 5:36, Joh 14:12, 1Jn 4:17)

Dan 11:28  Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. [evil doing, works in the flesh that draw attention to the beast’s power who asks the question in the second resurrection, “Haven’t we done many wonderful works?”]

Dan 11:32  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries [more works of the flesh that are as filthy rags to God (Isa64:6)]: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits [righteous exploits through Christ (Gal 2:20)].

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 
Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [Joh 8:31-32] therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Mat 24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

Rom 2:13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

Joh 5:20  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

Joh 5:36  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me [Joh 20:21].

Joh 14:12  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also [1Jn 4:17]; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father [Joh 16:7].

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world [having God’s spirit within us (Rom 8:9, Joh 14:20)].

By God’s grace we can now look at this chapter and continue to be mindful of the truths which these seemingly enigmatic prophecies hide, being “sealed with seven seals” that can only be opened and understood by the faith of Christ within us, Who makes it possible for us to be doers of the words and not hearers only (Rev 5:1-5, Php 2:12-13). Without the faith of Christ, our natural tendency will be to get fixated on the natural events and see only the historical element of the prophecies, losing out on the riches God has hidden for the elect to unearth in this life (Pro 25:2).

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 
Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: [“be ye not troubled“] behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Dan 11:1  Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.

God sends His angel [Christ] to Daniel to strengthen him in chapter 10 (Dan 10:17-18), and as such he was able to be shown the things that were “noted in the scripture of truth” (Dan 10:21). These verses of chapter 11 confirm to the church God’s faithfulness in what He has started in the body of Christ through our Lord who is the author and finisher of our faith by whom we can endure all things (Php 4:13).

Dan 10:17  For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. 
Dan 10:18  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 

Dan 10:21  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: [typifying Rev 1:3] and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. 

The body of Christ is strengthened when we can be among the many joints of His body that confirm the truth of our communion in the Lord (Eph 4:16, 1Co 10:16, 2Co 1:4) and how it is through much tribulation that we will inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22). 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

What we are going to read in chapter 11 is once again connected to the day of the Lord that is at hand in the lives of those who are being judged in this age (1Pe 4:17), and that point is signified by it being “in the first year of Darius the Mede.“

Dan 11:2  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.

Persia and Grecia have their positions on the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 of Daniel, and then those sections of the statue are further explained for us in chapter 7 of Daniel. When going over chapter 2 and 7 of Daniel, we looked at the spiritual significance of these two kingdoms for God’s elect, and we are shown in this second verse of Daniel 11 (Dan 11:2) that the three kings of Persia signify a process of judgment upon those kingdoms within us which must be destroyed. It is when the beast of Persia is whole, symbolized by “the fourth [king] shall be far richer” that this empire is determined by God’s counsel to be on its way out (Eph 1:11). Pride comes before a fall, and having the riches of this world can make us very easily proud, and yet if God is working with us, He will conquer that pride of life within us, with the “realm of Grecia” that will conquer “Persia.“

These four sections of the statue of Daniel found in chapter 2 represent kings and the kingdoms these kings rule, typifying for us the powers and principalities we must wrestle against in our heavens (Eph 6:12) through a life-long process that God has ordained will create the necessary spiritual battles which we need in order to go onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32). We are very much and unknowingly a kingdom divided against ourselves that can’t stand at first (Mar 3:24), which Christ is destroying little by little (Exo 23:30) so that we can become a fitly framed temple of God. This unity is all being accomplished by the grace through faith process that God is working out in His workmanship which we are through Christ (Eph 2:8-10).

Mar 3:24  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: [Babylonian empire] for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 

Dan 7:3  And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4  The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: [Babylonian empire] I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. 

Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee [Persia], and another third kingdom of brass [Grecia], which shall bear rule over all the earth. 

Dan 7:5  And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear [Persia], and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6  After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard [Grecia], which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 

The fourth kingdom that is strong as iron of Daniel 2:40 is the composite beast of Revelation 13:1-9.

Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 
Rev 13:2  And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

All the empires of mankind will eventually fall because of the natural state of disunity in man’s heart, which God has created within the marred vessel which the first Adam is (Jer 18:4). Every carnal empire with its way ‘that seems right to man, leads to death’ (Pro 14:12) and used by God to teach us an eternal principle of how mankind can only be united through the mind of Christ, the second Adam (1Co 1:12-29).

1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 
1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 
1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15  Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 
1Co 1:16  And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 
1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 
1Co 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 
1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 
1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified [Gal 2:20], unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 
1Co 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;[“God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (vs 27)] and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 
1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things [Rom 11:18, Rom 3:27] of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Dan 11:3  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. 
Dan 11:4  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

By many historical accounts this mighty king who shall “stand up” is speaking of Alexander the great, but the spiritual lesson for us is that Grecia does not fall all at once within us, but when it does begin to happen, the terminology God uses are these words, “his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven.” This dividing of Grecia to the four winds is accomplished by the hand of God, and it is a weakening of this part of the beast on the statue of Daniel chapter 2 expressed this way, “and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those“, and sets the stage “even for others beside those” to come in and rule. This is another starting point of sorts of the many great battles and wars God will work according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11) to teach God’s elect of His sovereign hand throughout history and, more importantly, in our heavens as Christ wages war against the adversary we must overcome as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Php 2:12-13).

Who comes in and follows the Grecian empire is the Persian empire, and the Roman Empire, and Christ the stone made without hands who is going to destroy the Roman empire within us, and by extension, every other corrupt power and principality [empires, kings] trying to gain rule over our heavens. Christ’s victorious life conquered all of humanity, every empire, and every king, down to this last empire of Rome (Rom 4:17) symbolized by the basest of all the empires that is represented by the feet of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2:34). 

Christ’s death (Heb 2:14) bruised the head of the serpent, as do the elect when we die daily (Gen 3:14-15, Isa 53:5), and the serpent bruised the heel of Christ’s body, the seed of the woman, the church. This allegory is typified for us with the stone [Christ] that hits the basest empire, Rome, in the prophecy in Daniel chapter 2 [the statue] (Dan 2:34), which is an example of God speaking of things that are not as though they were (Rom 4:17). In time, all nations within mankind will be judged and redeemed through Christ and His Christ. God’s elect must be bruised first in this life (Col 1:24) in order to be partakers of that rulership under Christ in the future (2Ti 2:12), and as we overcome all the nations within us of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by dying daily, the man of perdition will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our lives. Christ will not deny himself that victory in the lives of those whom He is the author and finisher of their faith (2Th 2:8, 2Ti 2:13-15, Heb 12:2). The prodigal son in his lowest state represents this basest of kingdoms, the Roman Empire that is hit by a stone on “iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men [seed of the serpent (Joh 8:44)]: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay” (Dan 2:43).

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 

It is all well and good to identify Adam’s descendants comprised of all these empires and kings and their wars, but to stop there is just a history lesson. With that said we can identify many parts of this section of Daniel in history with natural events that will precede spiritual lessons to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear what those lessons are. God tells us that all of these prophecies’ primary function was not to give us a historical timeline [humanity’s prophetic scaffolding], but were written down to reveal something about the end of the ages that have come upon those who are being judged in this life (1Co 10:11, 1Pe 1:12, 1Pe 4:17). Our goal should therefore be to glean as many spiritual lessons as God will permit through these very troublesome events of war between empires that typify the spiritual warfare that God has called us to be refined by in the Potter’s hand (Eph 6:12).

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Here is a pretty concise semi-historical explanation of Daniel chapter 11 that Microsoft Bing generated by asking the question “explain chapter 11 of Daniel.” God is preparing the world for the future teachers who will, in an instant, be able to explain the truth of God, and because God’s judgments will be in the earth, His manifest knowledge will proceed forth from the elect, and the world will learn of His righteousness.

“Chapter 11 of the Book of Daniel is a highly detailed and complex prophecy concerning the future events affecting the Jewish people. This chapter outlines a series of conflicts between the “king of the North” and the “king of the South,” which many scholars interpret as historical events that occurred between the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt (the South) and the Seleucid Empire in Syria (the North). The prophecy extends from the time of Persian rule to the end of times.

The chapter begins with a prediction of the rise and fall of Persian kings and the emergence of Alexander the Great, whose empire would be divided after his death. It then describes a long series of wars and political maneuvers between the northern and southern kingdoms, including marriages, alliances, betrayals, and battles. The prophecy is noted for its detail and accuracy regarding historical events, leading some to suggest it was written after the fact, though traditional belief holds that it was written by Daniel in the 6th century BCE as a genuine prophecy.

The latter part of the chapter shifts to a future “time of the end,” describing a ruler who will do as he pleases, exalt himself, and oppose God, which many interpret as a reference to the Antichrist figure in Christian eschatology.

The text is considered by many to be one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible, providing insights not only into the historical events of the Near East but also into the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom.”  * End Quote *

Next week, Lord willing, we will start to break down the remaining verses of this chapter of Daniel that, like all of God’s word, is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. We are going to hear of a lot of wars and rumors of wars, and learn of many nations that have risen against nations, of which Christ tells us represent our spiritual battles in our heavens that He tells us not to be troubled over (Mar 13:7-8, Luk 12:32).

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Mar 13:7  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
Mar 13:8  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

[Posted June 28, 2023]

Hi Mike,

Quick question: In Luke 1:15 we are told John the Baptist would be “filled with the Holy Ghost” from his mother’s womb.

The Holy Spirit was not made available to anyone until the Day of Pentecost, so how could John be filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb?

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate your online ministry, have a blessed day,

Your brother,

C​____​

Hi C​____​,

Thank you for your question.

Yo​u​ ask:

In Luke 1:15 we are told John the Baptist would be “filled with the Holy Ghost” from his mother’s womb.

“The Holy Spirit was not made available to anyone until the Day of Pentecost, so how could John be filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb?” (End Quote)

John was “filled with the holy spirit” in the same way Samson and King David had the holy spirit.

Here is what we are told about Samson:

Jdg 13:24  And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.
Jdg 13:25  And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

This is what we are told about King David:

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Both Samson, and King David were living under the law of Moses and so was John, the Baptist. We know this is true because Christ told us:

Luk 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Joh 1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The “bread from heaven” was not “the true bread from heaven”:

Joh 6:30  They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Joh 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. [Psa 78:4]
Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

As you noted, the holy spirit, also called “The spirit of Truth” was not given to dwell within the Lord’s people until the day of Pentecost, as Christ promised:,

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The ‘spirit of Truth’ and “the comforter, which is the holy ghost” are one and the same. They are the holy spirit which the Father gives to Christ​,​ ​W​ho then gives it to us. As Christ tells us, the Father gave it to Him, therefore, it is His to give to whom He will to dwell within us to teach us and to help us to overcome our flesh.

Samson married a Philistine and cavorted with Philistine harlots. King David died with these words on his lips:

1Ki 2:5  Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
1Ki 2:6  Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

1Ki 2:8  And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
1Ki 2:9  Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

King David wanted his son Solomon to take vengeance on his enemies, Joab and Shemei. He wanted Solomon to see to it that Joab did not die “in peace”, and he wanted Shemei to die a ‘bloody’ death at the hands of Solomon.

Neither Samson nor King David had the holy spirit which teaches us to forgive all men their sins against us.

Therefore, the answer to your question about how John the Baptist was ‘filled with the holy spirit from his mother’s womb’ is that he was filled in the same manner that God gave Israel “bread from heaven.” It was “not the true bread fro​m​ heaven”, and John’s filling with the holy spirit was not the true filling of the holy spirit. The ‘bread from heaven’ and the ‘filling of John with the holy spirit’ we​re​ Old Testament types of the True, just as Samson and King David had the holy spirit in type. It was an outward fulfilling which typified the true filling of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, and it did not dwell within John because, as Christ told us, John will not be in the kingdom of heaven:

Luk 7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

I hope this helps you to see that everything before Christ was just a type and a shadow “of good things to come.”

Heb 10:1  For the law [which included John] having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

YbiC, Mike

[Study Aired February 12, 2023]

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8  And there was great joy in that city.
Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

In our last study, Stephen had been stoned to death and became the first Christian to die for His faith in Christ. That stoning was supervised by a young man named Saul:

Act 7:58  and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

This chapter begins by pointing out that the young man, Saul, consented to Stephen’s death, and then we are informed that the church came under great persecution at the time of Stephen’s stoning:

Act 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

The whole church was still all Jewish and was still believing that physical Israel was God’s chosen nation. The first question they asked after Christ’s resurrection reveals that they believed Christ would very soon appear in power and deliver physical Israel from her Roman oppressors and establish physical Israel as the chief nation on earth. There was yet no concept of a spiritual seed of Abraham which included the Gentiles. This question reveals just how spiritually immature the apostles themselves were at the time of the resurrection of Christ:

Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

The apostles were not yet given the understanding of the things of the spirit, and when Christ spoke to them “of things pertaining to the kingdom of God”, they were conflating “the kingdom of God” with the carnal nation of physical Israel.

These Christians who “were all scattered abroad” were not yet scattered beyond Israel. They were scattered “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria”, and the apostles themselves were not scattered at all. They were all still in Jerusalem, still believing that physical Jerusalem was to be the capital of the coming kingdom of God they had been commissioned to proclaim:

Luk 8:1  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

Luk 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
Luk 9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

When the Pharisees had asked Christ about this coming kingdom, He had told them that His kingdom was an inward kingdom, but neither the Pharisees nor His disciples had a spiritual bone in their bodies at that time, and they were still looking for a physical kingdom:

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Christ certainly was not telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was within them. What He was saying is that the kingdom of God is within those it is within.

In the very next verse He is speaking to His disciples, and if any of us had heard these words with no spiritual insights we, too, would have been led to believe that soon after His death and resurrection the kingdom of God would come to this earth:

Luk 17:22  And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
Luk 17:23  And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
Luk 17:24  For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
Luk 17:25  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

It is true that Christ did not say, “Immediately after I suffer many things and immediately after I am rejected of this generation the Son of Man will appear to establish His kingdom as the lightning lightens out of one part under heaven and shines unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.” His words would certainly lead one to believe that His kingdom was imminent. Indeed, His kingdom did come on the day of Pentecost when the holy spirit for the first time ever entered into and took up residence within the one hundred and twenty people who were in the upper room on that day. However, even after the holy spirit had come into the disciples, it would still be several years before they understood that being a physical Jew without Christ did not make one a ‘Jew’ at all:

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Christ had made these statements also:

Mar 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Mar 14:25  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

The apostles Peter, James and John, “saw the kingdom of God come with power” the very next week as the very next verse explains with the conjunction ‘and’:

Mar 9:2  And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mar 9:3  And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Mar 9:4  And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Mar 9:5  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mar 9:6  For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Mar 9:8  And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Mar 9:9  And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
Mar 9:10  And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

The apostles did not understand the meaning of “rising from the dead”. How could they possibly understand what “the kingdom of God is within you” meant?

There is no doubt the disciples and the apostles all thought the physical kingdom of God was imminent in their day. They were not yet given to understand the full meaning of “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).

Judaea and Samaria are both within Israel, and there is yet no understanding of the gospel going to the Gentiles. Peter has not yet been sent to the house of Cornelius the Gentile Roman Centurion, and Saul of Tarsus has not yet been converted. In fact, it is at this point Saul makes the persecution of all Christians his life’s occupation:

Act 8:2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Act 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where [within Israel] preaching the word.
Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Christ had earlier told His disciples they were not to go to the Samaritans. He commissioned them to tell only the house of Israel that “The kingdom of heaven is at hand”:

Mat 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

This is the first time anyone has gone to speak to the Samaritans since Christ spent a few days with them when He witnessed to the woman at Jacob’s well:

Joh 4:28  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
Joh 4:29  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Joh 4:30  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

Joh 4:39  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
Joh 4:40  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
Joh 4:41  And many more believed because of his own word;
Joh 4:42  And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Christ had been well received by the Samaritans, and Philip capitalized upon the work Christ had done:

Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8  And there was great joy in that city.

Here we are given another example of a Jew who believed in Christ but did not abide in His word as Christ told us in:

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.

It certainly doesn’t happen overnight, but it is only in our patience that the words of Christ within us give us dominion over sin in our lives:

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We are now introduced to just such a Jewish believer; one who believes in Christ but is not given to abide in and “continue in [His] Word”:

Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

These “sorceries” are the same “sorceries” associated with Babylon the great, the mother of harlots:

Isa 47:1  Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
Isa 47:2  Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
Isa 47:3  Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.
Isa 47:4  As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
Isa 47:5  Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
Isa 47:6  I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
Isa 47:7  And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
Isa 47:8  Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Isa 47:9  But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

Isa 47:10  For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
Isa 47:11  Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
Isa 47:12  Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

Rev 18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Isa 47:13  Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Isa 47:14  Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
Isa 47:15  Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.

This is the spirit of this ‘Samaritan Simon’. He believed in Christ, but he did so for personal gain and not to glorify God and not for the benefit of his brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the spirit of all the prosperity ministers who cannot see that the apostle John says these words in Isaiah 47 are actually referring to Babylon the Great as “that great city wherein our Lord was crucified”, and Paul tells  us that “Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children” is the anti-type of Hagar, the bondwoman and her son Ishmael:

Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Physical Jerusalem typifies the Lord’s apostate church. This is what the Lord says of His apostate people:

Luk 13:33  Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following [I must get to Jerusalem]: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

This is physical water baptism, which is a mere ritual and like physical circumcision, does nothing to change the heart and mind. The church in this reformation dispensation is still living under the law of Moses as we all first do. We all know at the beginning of our calling that Christ has made all the changes He proclaimed in Matthew 5-7 where He quoted the law of Moses every time He said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time… love your neighbor and hate your enemy… eye for eye and tooth for tooth… swear only by the name of the Lord your God.”  Then He reformed the law of Moses with the words of His New Covenant when He taught saying… “but I say unto you… love your enemy… swear not at all… resist not evil… turn the other cheek…” etc. Philip and all the apostles are aware of those changes, but if Christ had not spoken to the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, they would have been hesitant to go in unto Samaritans who were Jews who worshipped in Bethel and in Dan where Jereboam, the son of Nebat, has erected two golden calves and had established a separate society with separate festivals to keep the people of Israel from worshipping at Jerusalem. “By little and by little” the Lord is opening the eyes and hearts of his Jewish disciples to accept the all-encompassing depth and width of His kingdom.

Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

There is all the proof needed to demonstrate that water baptism changes nothing. Simon the sorcerer “was baptized”, but as we will see in our next study, he was not at all converted and still had the same self-centered heart and mind. ‘Believing in Christ’ does not make one a “disciple indeed”. A true “disciple indeed” will continue in and abide and remain in the Lord’s words and His doctrines through thick and thin and through persecution and much tribulation:

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 8:33  They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? [‘We are professing Christians, how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?’]
Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth [of sin] not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

According to the BT+ the name ‘Simon’ is defined as ‘Peter’ or ‘petros’, meaning ‘stone’. As with every word, there is both a positive and a negative application. Simon Peter was a “lively stone” in the Lord’s house. Simon the sorcerer of Samaria has been given a “stony heart” which is not revealed to be changed to “a heart of flesh” in this age.

Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

This Samaritan ‘Simon’ is given the same name as ‘Simon Peter’, but as we will see, he is not at all Peter.

Like Ananias and Sapphira, who sold their land and lied about how much of the proceeds they had given to the church, this ‘Simon of Samaria’ is introduced to us with the conjunction ‘but’. Here are those introductions side by side:

Ananias the liar:

Act 5:1  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Simon the sorcerer:

Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

Both Ananias and Simon of Samaria sought preeminence among the Lord’s people without having a humble servant’s spirit, which is the spirit of Christ.

Nevertheless, the work of the holy spirit through Philip was used by the Lord to begin to open the eyes of the apostles to the fact that physical Jerusalem was not the center of the universe, and Peter and John were sent to Samaria to further the Lord’s work among the apostate Jewish Samaritans. When I use the word ‘apostate’ here I am not referring to apostatizing from the faith of Christ. I use it to refer to the fact that the Samaritans had apostatized from keeping the holy days of Moses in Jerusalem as the woman at the well told Christ:

Joh 4:19  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Joh 4:20  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

The Samaritans were the despised outcasts of the people of God in Christ’s day, just as David was an outsider in the days when King Saul sought to kill him.

Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Without adding to or taking away from the words of scripture, we can observe that both Philip and the apostles, Peter and John, were gracious toward Simon, until his actions revealed what was actually in his heart. Simon had been baptized in water by Philip, but Peter and John did not lay hands on him to receive the holy spirit. Peter had discerned that Simon was not a man who had been dragged to the Lord by the Lord’s chastening grace. Rather this ‘Simon’ still possessed a “stony heart” which actually believed that he had something to offer the Lord, and he had no idea why the apostles were not the least bit interested in his money.

In our next study we will see that the apostle Peter tells Simon to repent of this presumptuous spirit and pray that the Lord will forgive him of “this wickedness”. Peter has learned and now knows the Truth of the Lord’s words which were spoken while He was still here in a body of flesh and blood, when He told His disciples:

Joh 6:41  The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
Joh 6:42  And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?
Joh 6:43  Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [G1670: ‘helkuo’, drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Every part of the body of Christ is first “taught of God” and is “dragged [to] Him” before being brought into His corporate body. This principle applied to Peter himself:

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Peter knew and understood the truth of those words of the Lord, and he immediately rebuked this spirit which assumes it can buy off the God of Creation. “Thy money perish with you because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” is not a solicitous spirit one might have as he bears with the weak. The holy spirit has given Peter to understand that this person is not yet being shown who Christ is. Neither Christ nor His Christ will be bribed.

Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction [of their old man], whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Php 3:20  For our conversation [G4175: ‘politeuma’, citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

‘Enemies of the cross of Christ’ despise hearing of His judgments. They much prefer to hear smooth things (Isa 30:10), telling themselves they are ‘encouraging and helping others’ when the truth is they are doing others a disservice and spiritually spoiling those who are weak in the faith by failing to prepare them for the promised persecutions which come with being faithful to Christ and His doctrines.

Isa 30:10  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

The gospel of Christ is not the smooth-talking enchantments and sorceries of Simon of Samaria. Rather, the true gospel of Christ acknowledges that serving Christ in this present evil age entails “fiery trials… suffering with [Him] and much persecution”. The gospel of Christ also includes the promise of the reward of being manifested as the sons of God, a  promise which far outweighs all the hardships of our faithfulness in this present evil age:

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature [mankind] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Study Aired July 31, 2022]

Jer 47:1  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
Jer 47:2  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
Jer 47:3  At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;
Jer 47:4  Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
Jer 47:5  Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?
Jer 47:6  O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
Jer 47:7  How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

The Philistines are first mentioned in the time of Abraham when he ‘made a covenant with Abimelech’ the king of the Philistine city of Gerar (Gen 20:2):

Gen 21:32  Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

The Philistines were already in the promised land when Israel came up out of Egypt. They were in the promised land, but they were there without the benefit of being circumcised. The promised land itself signifies the promise Christ has given to live His life within us. ‘The promised land’ signifies our physical bodies as “the temple of God… [in] vessels of clay… [and] earthen vessels”:

Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye [Our physical bodies (Rom 12:1)] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

It is in that sense the Philistines typify the very beginning of our relationship with Christ as ‘carnal babes in Christ’. The false doctrine of a ten-second sinner’s prayer has blinded the eyes of most Christians from even being aware that in the beginning of our relationship with Christ we are all ‘carnal… babes in Christ’:

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

The Philistines typify our own flesh while we are ‘carnal babes in Christ’. We can see clearly that a ‘carnal babe in Christ’ is not yet circumcised in spirit, and is therefore “yet carnal” even though he is in the promised land, signifying that he is in a carnal relationship with Jesus Christ.

We all begin our relationship with Christ the same as these carnal Corinthians proclaiming that we are Catholic or Protestant. We are in the land of promise, but we are still spiritually uncircumcised of heart in spirit.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Like a “carnal babe in Christ” the Philistines are in ‘the promised land’ but without the benefit of circumcision. As such “at that time the Philistines [have] dominion over [us]”, as the story of Samson graphically demonstrates:

Jdg 14:1  And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
Jdg 14:2  And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
Jdg 14:3  Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
Jdg 14:4  But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

There are many spiritual lessons for us to unwrap in these four verses of Judges 14, and the first spiritual message is to see what a spiritual ‘Philistine’ means. Until we understand the spiritual significance of these people being ‘in the land’ in an uncircumcised state of being, this prophecy against “the Philistines” will be nothing more than a historical account of how the Lord used a physical man named Samson to deliver His physical people from their physical enemies. Once we come to see that Christ in us is the promised land, and once we are finally given to understand that as “carnal babes in Christ” we have these uncircumcised Philistines within us, and that these uncircumcised Philistines and the uncircumcised giants among them, dwell within us, then we can at last begin to slay them with the five smooth stones of grace through faith and begin to cleanse and purify the temple of God which temple we are.

Jer 47:1  The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.

Samson’s attraction to a Philistine woman betrays the immaturity which his Nazarite vow portrays:

Jdg 13:1  And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
Jdg 13:2  And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
Jdg 13:3  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Jdg 13:4  Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
Jdg 13:5  For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

We may have been led to believe that taking on a Nazarite vow indicates some degree of spiritual maturity, but the truth is quite the opposite. While a Nazarite vow does indeed signify a very special calling, a call to dedicate one’s life to the Lord’s service, it also signifies the most immature stage of that service. The Nazarite vow, as demonstrated by the examples of both Samson and John the Baptist, signifies each of us as ‘carnal babes in Christ’. Samson was “a Nazarite unto God from the womb” and so was John the Baptist:

Luk 1:13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk 1:14  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

John the Baptist being ‘filled with the holy spirit’ is not an early version of the filling of the holy spirit which occurred on the day of Pentecost. It is rather in the same sense that Samson was filled. It was a filling which gave him the strength to remain faithful to his immature outward Nazarite calling. Likewise, John the Baptist being ‘filled with the holy spirit’ had no more in common with spiritual maturity than the “first Adam” has with “the last Adam”. Both ‘Adams’ are in “the same [clay] vessel” but the first is destined to “dishonor [and] destruction” and “the last… Adam” is destined to “honor” and to becoming a king and priest with Christ for a thousand years, to be followed with the judgment of angels in the lake of fire.

1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Both Samson and John typify Christ, who through their deaths bring light and life to the Lord’s people. Neither Samson nor John will be in the kingdom of God as Christ revealed with these words concerning John’s function in His plan:

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luk 7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Christ also told His apostles:

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Lest there be any doubt that the great men of God of the Old Testament are less than the least in the kingdom of God, Peter makes it very clear with these words:

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Just as Mother Eve’s spiritually nude condition caused her to want to eat of the forbidden fruit, it was also Samson’s immature, Nazarite condition which caused him to be attracted to a Philistine woman instead of the daughters of his own people. Here is the URL to the first of a two-part study on the spiritual significance of the Nazarite vow:

The Spiritual Significance of the Nazarite Vow

Neither ‘strong drink’ nor ‘strong meat’ can be accepted and processed and digested by a carnal babe in Christ.

Samson’s blatant disregard of his father’s admonition speaks for itself concerning his immature position in the promised land. This lack of any fear of the Lord must be burned out of us before we will be granted to ‘go on unto perfection and maturity’. That is what the judgment of the Philistines accomplishes within us:

Jer 47:2  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land [of the Philistines, the promised land], and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.
Jer 47:3  At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

The death of Goliath and the routing of the entire army of the Philistines serve to support these words in the New Testament:

Jud 1:12  These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

When Samson married the woman of Timnath, “of the daughters of the Philistines” he willingly prepared a feast with the family and friends of his new wife:

Jdg 14:10  So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
Jdg 14:11  And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

This feast with ‘thirty companions’ of the uncircumcised Philistine family into which Samson was marrying tells those who are given spiritual vision and spiritual hearing that Samson is about to begin the process of being judged. Here is the URL on the spiritual significance of the number three:

Numbers in Scripture – Three, the Process of Spiritual Completion Through Judgment

We are told that David slew Goliath with a stone from his sling:

1Sa 17:50  So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

Because the Philistines within us must be ‘twice dead’ by the ‘sword of the word’ this is what the holy spirit inspired to be written in the very next verse:

1Sa 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Jer 47:4  Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.

It is very instructive to know that the Philistines and the Caphtorim are both the descendants of Mizraim, which is Egypt:

Gen 10:13  And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
Gen 10:14  And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.

The Philistines and the Caphtorim are both the children of Mizraim and the name ‘Mizraim’, which appears only four times in the King James Version, actually appears in the Hebrew 681 times and it is always translated as ‘Egypt’ or ‘Egyptian’ or the plural ‘Egyptians’:

H4714
מצרים
mitsrayim
Total KJV Occurrences: 681
egypt, 586
Gen_12:10-11 (2), Gen_12:14, Gen_13:1, Gen_13:10, Gen_15:18, Gen_21:21, Gen_25:18, Gen_26:2, Gen_37:25, Gen_37:28, Gen_37:36, Gen_40:1 (3), Gen_40:5, Gen 41 (19), Gen_42:3 (3), Gen_43:2, Gen_43:15, Gen_45:4, Gen_45:8-9 (2), Gen_45:13, Gen_45:18-20 (3), Gen_45:23, Gen_45:25-26 (2), Gen_46:3-4 (2), Gen_46:6-8 (3), Gen_46:20, Gen_46:26-27 (3), Gen_47:6, Gen_47:11, Gen_47:13-15 (3), Gen_47:20-21 (2), Gen_47:26-30 (5), Gen_48:5 (2), Gen_50:7, Gen_50:14, Gen_50:22, Gen_50:26, Exo_1:1, Exo_1:5, Exo_1:8, Exo_1:15, Exo_1:17-18 (2), Exo_2:23, Exo_3:7, Exo_3:10-12 (3), Exo_3:16-20 (5), Exo_4:18-21 (4), Exo_5:4, Exo_5:12, Exo_6:11, Exo_6:13 (2), Exo_6:26-29 (5), Exo_7:3-5 (4), Exo_7:11, Exo_7:19 (2), Exo_7:21-22 (2), Exo_8:5-7 (4), Exo_8:16-17 (2), Exo_8:24, Exo_9:4, Exo_9:6, Exo_9:9 (2), Exo_9:18, Exo_9:22-25 (5), Exo_10:2, Exo_10:7, Exo_10:12-15 (6), Exo_10:19, Exo_10:21-22 (2), Exo_11:1, Exo_11:3-6 (4), Exo_11:9, Ex 12 (15), Exo_13:3, Exo_13:8-9 (2), Exo_13:14-18 (5), Exo_14:5, Exo_14:7-8 (2), Exo_14:11-12 (3), Exo_16:1, Exo_16:3, Exo_16:6, Exo_16:32, Exo_17:3, Exo_20:1-2 (3), Exo_22:21, Exo_23:9, Exo_23:15, Exo_29:46, Exo_32:1, Exo_32:4, Exo_32:7-8 (2), Exo_32:11, Exo_32:23, Exo_33:1, Exo_34:18, Lev_11:45, Lev_18:3, Lev_19:34, Lev_19:36, Lev_22:33, Lev_23:43, Lev_25:38, Lev_25:42, Lev_25:55, Lev_26:13, Lev_26:45, Num_1:1, Num_3:13, Num_8:17, Num_9:1, Num_11:5, Num_11:18, Num_11:20, Num_13:22, Num_14:2-4 (3), Num_14:19, Num_14:22, Num_15:41, Num_20:5, Num_20:15-16 (3), Num_22:5 (2), Num_22:11, Num_23:22, Num_24:8, Num_26:4, Num_26:59, Num_32:11, Num_33:1, Num_33:38, Num_34:5, Deu_1:27, Deu_1:30, Deu_4:20, Deu_4:34, Deu_4:37, Deu_4:45-46 (2), Deu_5:6, Deu_5:15, Deu_6:12, Deu_6:21-22 (3), Deu_7:8, Deu_7:15, Deu_7:18, Deu_8:14, Deu_9:7, Deu_9:12, Deu_9:26, Deu_10:19, Deu_10:22, Deu_11:3-4 (3), Deu_11:10, Deu_13:5, Deu_13:10, Deu_15:15, Deu_16:1, Deu_16:3 (2), Deu_16:6, Deu_16:12, Deu_17:16, Deu_20:1, Deu_23:4, Deu_24:9, Deu_24:18, Deu_24:22, Deu_25:17, Deu_26:5, Deu_26:8, Deu_28:27, Deu_28:60, Deu_28:68, Deu_29:2, Deu_29:16, Deu_29:25, Deu_34:11, Jos_2:10, Jos_5:4-6 (4), Jos_9:9 (2), Jos_15:3-4 (2), Jos_15:47, Jos_24:4-7 (4), Jos_24:14, Jos_24:17, Jos_24:32, Jdg_2:1, Jdg_2:12, Jdg_6:8, Jdg_11:13 (2), Jdg_11:16, Jdg_19:30, 1Sa_2:27, 1Sa_8:8, 1Sa_10:18, 1Sa_12:6, 1Sa_12:8 (2), 1Sa_15:2, 1Sa_27:6-8 (3), 2Sa_7:6, 2Sa_7:23, 1Ki_3:1, 1Ki_4:21, 1Ki_4:30, 1Ki_6:1, 1Ki_8:9, 1Ki_8:16, 1Ki_8:21, 1Ki_8:51, 1Ki_8:53, 1Ki_8:65, 1Ki_9:9, 1Ki_9:16, 1Ki_10:28-29 (2), 1Ki_11:17-18 (3), 1Ki_11:21, 1Ki_11:40 (3), 1Ki_12:2 (2), 1Ki_12:28, 1Ki_14:25, 2Ki_17:4, 2Ki_17:7 (2), 2Ki_17:36, 2Ki_18:21 (2), 2Ki_18:24, 2Ki_21:15, 2Ki_23:29, 2Ki_23:34, 2Ki_24:7 (3), 2Ki_25:26, 1Ch_13:5, 1Ch_17:21, 2Ch_1:16-17 (2), 2Ch_5:10, 2Ch_6:5, 2Ch_7:8, 2Ch_7:22, 2Ch_9:26, 2Ch_9:28, 2Ch_12:2-3 (4), 2Ch_20:9-10 (2), 2Ch_26:8, 2Ch_35:20, 2Ch_36:3-4 (3), Neh_9:9, Neh_9:18, Psa_68:31, Psa_78:12, Psa_78:43, Psa_78:51, Psa_80:8, Psa_81:5, Psa_81:10, Psa_105:23, Psa_105:38, Psa_106:7, Psa_106:21, Psa_114:1, Psa_136:8-10 (3), Pro_7:16, Isa_7:18, Isa_10:24, Isa_10:26, Isa_11:11, Isa_11:16, Isa 19 (20), Isa_23:5 (4), Isa_27:12-13 (2), Isa_30:2-3 (3), Isa_31:1, Isa_36:6 (2), Isa_36:9, Isa_43:3, Isa_45:14, Isa_52:4, Jer_2:6, Jer_2:18, Jer_2:36, Jer_7:22, Jer_9:25-26 (2), Jer_11:4, Jer_11:7, Jer_16:14, Jer_24:7-8 (2), Jer_25:19, Jer_26:21-23 (4), Jer_31:32, Jer_32:20-21 (2), Jer_34:13, Jer_37:5, Jer_37:7, Jer_41:17, Jer_42:14-19 (7), Jer_43:2, Jer_43:7, Jer_43:11-13 (4), Jer_46:2 (2), Jer_46:8, Jer_46:11, Jer_46:13-14 (2), Jer_46:17, Jer_46:19-20 (2), Jer_46:24-25 (2), Eze_17:15, Eze_20:4-10 (8), Eze_20:36, Eze_23:3, Eze_23:8, Eze_23:19, Eze_23:27 (2), Eze_27:7, Eze_29:2-3 (3), Eze_29:6, Eze_29:9-10 (2), Eze_29:12, Eze_29:14, Eze_29:19-20 (2), Eze_32:2 (2), Eze_32:12, Eze_32:15-16 (2), Eze_32:18, Dan_9:15, Dan_11:8, Dan_11:42-43 (2), Hos_2:15, Hos_7:11, Hos_7:16, Hos_8:13, Hos_9:3, Hos_9:6, Hos_11:1, Hos_11:5, Hos_11:11, Hos_12:1, Hos_12:9, Hos_12:13, Hos_13:4, Joe_3:19, Amo_2:10, Amo_3:1, Amo_4:9-10 (2), Amo_8:8, Amo_9:5, Amo_9:7, Mic_6:4, Mic_7:15, Nah_3:9, Hag_2:5, Zec_10:10-11 (2), Zec_14:19
egyptians, 89
Gen_41:55-56 (2), Gen_43:32, Gen_45:2, Gen_46:34, Gen_47:15, Gen_47:20, Gen_50:3, Gen_50:11, Exo_1:13, Exo_3:8-9 (2), Exo_3:21-22 (2), Exo_6:5-7 (3), Exo_7:5, Exo_7:18, Exo_7:21, Exo_7:24, Exo_8:21, Exo_8:26 (2), Exo_9:11, Exo_10:6, Exo_11:3, Exo_11:7, Exo_12:23, Exo_12:27, Exo_12:30, Exo_12:33, Exo_12:35-36 (3), Exo_14:4, Exo_14:9-10 (2), Exo_14:12-13 (3), Exo_14:17-18 (2), Exo_14:20, Exo_14:23-27 (8), Exo_14:30-31 (3), Exo_15:26, Exo_18:8-10 (4), Exo_19:4, Num_14:12-13 (2), Num_20:15, Num_33:3-4 (2), Jos_24:6, Jdg_6:9, Jdg_10:11, 1Sa_4:8, 1Sa_6:6, 1Sa_10:18, 2Ki_7:6, Isa_19:2 (2), Isa_19:4, Isa_19:21, Isa_19:23, Isa_20:4, Isa_30:7, Isa_31:3, Jer_43:13, Lam_5:6, Eze_16:26, Eze_23:21, Eze_29:12-13 (2), Eze_30:23, Eze_30:26
mizraim, 4
Gen_10:6, Gen_10:13, 1Ch_1:8, 1Ch_1:11
egyptian, 2
Isa_11:15, Isa_19:23

Knowing this very close relationship between Egypt and the Philistines makes it very clear that the only difference between the spiritual significance of these two enemies of the people of the Lord is that the one is in Egypt, persecuting the Lord’s people, signifying the bondage of the Lord’s people to the carnal rebellious world. The other is an uncircumcised Philistine ‘carnal babe in Christ’ which is also just an uncircumcised Egyptian who is in the land of promise, having a relationship with the Lord’s people but, as a presumptuous and unruly child, always attempting to dominate the Lord’s household. The Lord will not yield to His rebellious “carnal… babes in Christ”. Instead, He will punish them and destroy the kingdom of the first man Adam within His house… His temple.

Jer 47:5  Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?

Baldness has both a positive and a negative application. In its positive application it was simply a self-imposed part of the mourning process:

Job 1:20  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

Jer 16:6  Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves nor make themselves bald for them:

In its negative application, baldness was inflicted upon an enemy to humiliate him:

1Ch 19:4  Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

Isa 3:17  Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.

Isa 3:24  And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.

Cutting oneself was forbidden by the Lord while being common among the Gentiles.

Deu 14:1  Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

The Lord is our Father, and it is His will, and His alone, to chasten and scourge those He loves. We are not given to take that scourging upon ourselves. Nevertheless, the Lord’s people followed the customs of the nations around them and also cut themselves, as Jeremiah reveals when speaking of Judah’s impending judgments:

Jer 16:1  The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,
Jer 16:2  Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.
Jer 16:3  For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land;
Jer 16:4  They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
Jer 16:5  For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.
Jer 16:6  Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:
Jer 16:7  Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

The prophets of Baal cut themselves in their efforts to get Baal’s attention, but the Lord has not given the spirit world to communicate with this realm to that degree, and Baal did not hear them:

1Ki 18:25  And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
1Ki 18:26  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
1Ki 18:27  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey,  or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
1Ki 18:28  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
1Ki 18:29  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

The spirit realm can, and does, tempt us to disobey the words of the Lord, but the Lord’s people are always forbidden communications with that realm:

Lev 19:31  Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 20:6  And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

1Sa 28:3  Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

However, the sword of ‘the Lord’s servant’, Nebuchadnezzar, is not at all restrained and is given to destroy the symbol of our old  man and his kingdom, signified by the Philistines within our land:

Jer 47:6  O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.
Jer 47:7  How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.

It is by the Lord’s words we are purged of the giants like Goliath and the armies of the Philistines within us. The Lord’s words are signified abundantly by both fire and water, an apparent contradiction which serves to keep the mysteries of the kingdom of God hidden from those who have not been given eyes to see nor ears to hear the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the things of the spirit (Mat 13:10-15, 1Co 2:13-14).

As ‘fire’ the Words of the Lord burn up all the ‘wood, hay, and stubble’ within us:

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

As ‘water’ the Lord’s words are “rivers of living waters” springing out of the bellies of the Lord’s elect, washing us clean:

Joh 7:37  In the last day, that great  day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

[Study Aired July 17, 2022

Jer 46:1  The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;
Jer 46:2  Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.
Jer 46:3  Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
Jer 46:4  Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.
Jer 46:5  Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.
Jer 46:6  Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.
Jer 46:7  Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
Jer 46:8  Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
Jer 46:9  Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
Jer 46:10  For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Jer 46:11  Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
Jer 46:12  The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.
Jer 46:13  The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.
Jer 46:14  Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

Egypt is merely the first of many nations, because ‘Egypt’ in scripture typifies and signifies the world of sin. So, we are first told:

Jer 46:1  The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

Here is an outline of the remainder of this prophecy of Jeremiah:

Part Three: The Prophecies to the Gentiles (46:1-51:64) I.
Prophecies against Egypt……………………………………………46:1-28 II.
Prophecies against Philistia…………………………………47:1-7 III.
Prophecies against Moab…………………………………………….48:1-47 IV.
Prophecies against Ammon………………………………………….49:1-6 V.
Prophecies against Edom…………………………………………….49:7-22 VI.
Prophecies against Damascus……………………………………49:23-27 VII.
Prophecies against Kedar and Hazor…………………49:28-33 VIII.
Prophecies against Elam…………………………………………….49:34-39 IX.
Prophecies against Babylon………………………………………50:1-51:64 A.
Babylon’s Defeat…………………… 50:1-20 B.
Babylon’s Desolation…………………50:21-46 C.
Babylon’s Destiny……………………51:1-64
Part Four:
The Fall of Jerusalem………………..52:1-34 I.
The Capture of Jerusalem……………..52:1-11 II.
The Destruction of Jerusalem………….52:12-23 III.
The Exile to Babylon…………………52:24-30 IV.
The Liberation of Jehoiachin………….52:31-34
[SOURCE: Talk Through the Bible (TTTB) – 5-3-2017]

This is a good outline of the Gentile nations against which Jeremiah prophesied. It is copied from this link:

http://epubc.ca/files/ROOT/bible-study/documents/2017-08-09_OUTLINE–Book-of-JEREMIAH_rev.pdf

These are one and all the historical enemies of the Lord’s chosen people. In type they signify the various false doctrines and physical passions which seek to destroy the Lord’s elect. The fact that they are each named and judged is for our admonition to show us who our enemies are and to let us know they will not be given any quarter by the Lord. These nations signify the spiritual enemies of Christ within us. They were all “marred in the Potter’s hand” and will each and every one be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord’s coming into our lives.

This is the negative application of the word ‘Gentiles’. The judgments which are pronounced upon Egypt and upon all the other Gentile nations in the coming chapters of Jeremiah are pronounced upon each of these Gentile nations as a type and shadow of the different offenses of our old man within ourselves, but we know that before we can learn any spiritual lesson within our own heart and mind, we must first be shown an outward fulfillment of these prophecies upon these nations of the world outwardly.

The Lord begins His words against the Gentiles, who hate His chosen people, with His words against Egypt:

Jer 46:2  Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

Nebuchadnezzar smote Pharaohnecho but not before Pharaohnecho had smitten Josiah, king of Judah. It was all done for our sakes and for our admonition:

2Ki 23:28  Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2Ki 23:29  In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he [Pharaoh] slew him [King Josiah] at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
2Ki 23:30  And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.

Why are we told of this tragedy? It was during the reign of Josiah that Jeremiah’s prophecy begins. Josiah was one of the best kings Judah ever had. This is what the holy spirit tells us of King Josiah’s thirty-one-year reign:

2Ki 22:1  Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.
2Ki 22:2  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

However, even righteous King Josiah made the mistake of failing to seek the Lord’s counsel before going to war, and that careless act cost him his life even after the Lord used Pharaohnecho to warn King Josiah against getting involved in the Lord’s work with Egypt and Assyria. As the Lord’s soldiers, we are commanded to stay out of the affairs of this world:

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Josiah forgot how the Lord communicates with His servants and presumptuously went to war without first inquiring of the Lord via His proven prophet, Jeremiah:

2Ch 35:20  After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
2Ch 35:21  But he [Necho] sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
2Ch 35:22  Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
2Ch 35:23  And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
2Ch 35:24  His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
2Ch 35:25  And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.

Jeremiah’s prophecy began in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign:

Jer 1:1  The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
Jer 1:2  To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Josiah’s reign lasted 31 years, so Jeremiah had been prophesying for 18 years by the time Josiah went out to war against Pharaohnecho without enquiring of the Lord at the mouth of His prophet Jeremiah, “and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.”

The Lord had not yet rejected His physical people even though He used King Josiah to demonstrate to us the need to always seek a multitude of counselors before we make our war as an earlier king, King Solomon, had counseled Josiah and us:

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Josiah failed to seek counsel before making his war, and he paid dearly for it as we all will if we refuse the Lord’s counsel and if we fail to seek His counsel. It happened to Josiah for our admonition (1Co 10:11). It will cost us our lives if we refuse the Lord’s ‘counsel’ which counsels us to seek and then defer to our counselors:

Heb 13:17 Be persuaded by your leaders, and be deferring to them, for they are vigilant for the sake of your souls, as having to render an account, that they may be doing this with joy, and not with groaning, for this is disadvantageous for you. (CLV)

That is the Lord’s counsel to each of us.

Nevertheless, the Lord has a controversy with the nations that are within us spiritually as well as the outward dispensational nations. As the Lord judged these Gentile nations outwardly, He is setting up all the nations within His elect to be chastened for their rejection of Him and of His people and His prophets. These prophecies still have both inward and outward applications. In the prophets the Lord shows us what He is doing within us by His outward punishments of the Gentile nations of this world beginning with Egypt. The Lord shows no mercy to His enemies whom He has told us to “destroy”:

Jer 46:3  Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.
Jer 46:4  Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your  helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.

All these words referring to the gear worn by soldiers in war are all mentioned just to make the point that it is all to no avail when they are used in war against the Lord and His purpose. Here is what the holy spirit tells us the Lord can perform for His own glory:

Act 5:17  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
Act 5:18  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Act 5:19  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Act 5:21  And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Act 5:22  But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
Act 5:23  Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
Act 5:24  Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
Act 5:25  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Act 5:26  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
Act 5:27  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Act 5:33  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Act 5:34  Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
Act 5:35  And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
Act 5:36  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Act 5:37  After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
Act 5:38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Act 5:39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Nothing we can do has any affect against the Lord, and nothing we can do can protect us if “we be found even to fight against God”. Just as the Lord worked things with Joseph’s brothers, He is doing the same thing with the whole world. Everything we do in defiance of Him will be made to correct and reprove us for our own wickedness.

This word ‘brigandines’ (Jer 46:4) is used one other time in scripture, and that entry is also here in Jeremiah where the Lord is telling us what He will do to judge Babylon after Babylon has served as His rod to reprove His own people:

Jer 51:1  Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
Jer 51:2  And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
Jer 51:3  Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.

“Him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine” refers to soldiers in “a coat of mail”.

H5630
סִרְיֹן
siryôn
sir-yone’
For H8302; a coat of mail: – brigandine.

A coat of mail covers the entire body to defend against an enemy, but there is no defense against the Lord’s power to punish us for our rebellious defiance of Him and His ways. This is true within and outwardly. Our old man is completely defenseless against the Lord’s hand, and when we fight against the Lord everything we do turns out to be really working against us. It is our own wickedness which will correct and reprove us. The outward nations of this world are just as defenseless as they continue to declare themselves as being free of the Lord’s ruling hand. The world’s rebellions against the Lord are really nothing less than curses against themselves. These words apply within the heavens of the Lord’s elect and as long as there is an outward physical realm, they will always have an application to that outward world in the appointed time:

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

It is the Lord who decides the outcome of every war mankind has ever fought or ever will fight.

This is the Truth, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar:

Dan 4:17  This matter [Any and every “matter”] is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

It is Christ Himself who has three times in the book of Matthew, commissioned us to “watch” for the Lord’s appearing:

Mat 24:42   Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Mat 25:13   Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Christ reproved His very tired apostles for not watching with Him on the night of His apprehension:

Mat 26:40   And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41   Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates that if we are given to be “watchers” it will be only because the Lord has given us His spirit, so we need not “go to them that sell” when the cry is made that, ‘the bride cometh’:

Mat 25:1  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The foolish virgins had “tasted of the holy ghost” to be able to say, “Our lamps are gone out.” A lamp cannot ‘go out’ if it never had any oil at all.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost [the lamp oil],
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God [The Lord’s elect wise virgins]:
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Our “work of love” is our obedience to our Lord under any circumstance. Our ‘work of love’ is measured by how much we “tremble at His words” (Isa 66:5).

We need to remember what it means to “go and buy”. Here is what that means. Here is what the five foolish virgins were not willing to do:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

The dream is one and all who buy gold tried in the fire and are rich are the same as the five wise virgins who are rich in the ‘oil’ of the spirit and words and works of Christ because they tremble at His words.

Isa 66:1  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Isa 66:5  Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

All who “have tasted of the holy ghost” have had a degree of the holy spirit given to them. If they are then made to “fall away” it will then be “impossible to renew them again to repentance because they will “find no place for repentance”, typified by Esau who actually had the inheritance before treading it underfoot and counting it “an unholy thing.”

Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Christ is “the spirit of grace”, and it is He who Esau in type “despised” when he sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of pottage:

Gen 25:34  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

The whole world has turned their backs on God and on His Christ, and all we and they do to deny His sovereignty over the nations of this earth serves only to correct and reprove us and them “every man in his own order” (1Co 3:13 and 1Co 15:23):

Jer 46:5  Wherefore have I seen them [the armies of Egypt] dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.
Jer 46:6  Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

“The mighty man… shall stumble and fall toward the north…” is one of many verses which demonstrate that ‘the north’ typifies the Lord’s humiliating judgment with which He is working His purpose in all the affairs of mankind.

Judgment is revealed to come upon the Lord’s people “from the north”:

Eze 9:1  He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
Eze 9:2  And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

The Lord’s judgments are always depicted as coming out of “the way… which lieth toward the north”, and they are administered first upon “they that are Christ’s”] because the Lord is seeking an occasion to destroy our old man and his entire kingdom “first”, but then “every man in his own order”:

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24  Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The Lord’s own anointed are being judged first in this present time as Ezekiel informs us:

Eze 9:3  And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
Eze 9:4  And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Eze 9:5  And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Eze 9:6  Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Eze 9:7  And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

The Lord’s chastening, scourging, correcting, and reproving, all “begin at His sanctuary… His house… which temple [we] are” if indeed we have His oil in our vessels:

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The Lord’s judgments burn up all our wood, hay, and stubble. They cause the death and destruction of the entire kingdom of our rebellious old man. They are the painful and humiliating destruction of our old man:

Eze 9:8  And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
Eze 9:9  Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
Eze 9:10  And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
Eze 9:11  And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

These words are telling us that we all reap what we sow, and saying “the Lord hath forsaken the earth” will not keep us from doing so or restrain His chastening hand:

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The Lord’s elect are judged by the same words which judge those in the lake of fire. The fire of the lake of fire is the same fiery words (Jer 5:14) which judge the elect in this present time. “Every man’s work… shall be revealed by fire, and the fire will try every man’s work of what sort it is”:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Joh 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Both endure the same “fire and brimstone [of] the wrath of God [expressed in] the words of the prophecy of this book”. It is “the prophecy of this book [which] is the fire and brimstone which produces “the patience of the saints and the faith of Jesus”:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

[1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?]

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

The Lord’s “very elect”, the “sheep… on His right hand” share much in common with “the goats on His left hand” (Mat 25:31-46). If we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” that means we believe and live by every word of God. Therefore, the sheep will never hear the words “depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”, and the goats will never hear the words “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”:

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The elect of the Lord will not be hurt of nor have any part in the second death/lake of fire/great white throne judgment, other than being the judges who administer that great white throne judgment, and being the ‘fire’ which is ‘the lake of fire’.

Egypt signifies the whole world in rebellion against “the Lord and His Christ”. All men have their beginning in this rebellious world and must be judged for that rebellion against their own Maker:

Jer 46:7  Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?
Jer 46:8  Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
Jer 46:9  Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.
Jer 46:10  For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.

If you have the nerve to let it be known that you actually believe that God rules in the kingdoms of men and will judge every man according to his works, this world will consider you to be insane. Nevertheless, the word of God stands true and will be proven to be so.

Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Since “[the Lord’s] words shall not pass away” these words of His coming judgment must be fulfilled:

Jer 46:11  Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.
Jer 46:12  The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.

“The mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty” tells us that when the Lord’s judgments come upon us, nothing we can do will keep us from falling under His judgment. All our ‘mighty men’ and all our false doctrines will be revealed to be the lying contradictions they are.

Jer 46:13  The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

When the Lord uses Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the king of one nation to punish another nation’s king, the king of Egypt in this instance, He is demonstrating how our own wickedness will correct us, and our own backslidings shall reprove us:

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Jer 46:14  Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.

Physically and outwardly “the sword shall devour round about thee” tells us that just as the king of Babylon had already devoured the Philistines, Judah, Syria, Edom, Moab, and Ammon, the Egyptians are now next to defend themselves in vain because the Lord has already decided that Egypt is now in the queue to be punished for her sins, along with all those other nations.

Spiritually and inwardly all these nations are “the law of sin” within our members warring against us even as we war against the Lord. These nations signify all the false doctrines and sins within us which are our own wickedness which will correct and reprove us.

Gospels In Harmony – The Ten Virgins

Mat 25:1-13

[Study Aired August 31, 2021]

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

In this study Christ is continuing to speak in parables about the kingdom of God and His return. The parable is about what is within each of us. We are the ten virgins being prepared as the bride of Christ. Here is the first verses.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

The ten virgins are us when Christ first enters our hearts and minds, ten having the spiritual significance of the completeness of the flesh. In our last study, Christ said the coming of the Son of man is like the days of Noah. Noah was the tenth generation, and at that time all mankind were killed, and only eight remained. Here is the link to the study of Numbers in Scripture – “Ten = Completeness of The Flesh” which also shows us the meaning of the two fives mentioned in this parable. Here is the link to the study which shows us the number ten is 5 (grace through faith) twice (first and second resurrections). This also represents the many called and few chosen and the old man and new man within.

Their lamps hold the oil that is fuel for the light. The lamp represents our mind and heart. The oil represents the holy spirit by which we are annointed. When the oil is touched by fire, which represents judgment, light is produced. The light represents the truth, and the bridegroom represents Christ. The lamp is made of copper and represents us as being carnal babes in Christ, the best flesh has to offer and the necessity of copper in bringing us to Christ. Here are study links for Base metals in scriptures: Copper, Part 1;
Copper, Part 2; and Copper, Part 3. Also, here is a link to showing us what oil represents in scripture What is Oil in Scripture.

Now here is the difference between the foolish and the wise.

Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

The foolish took no oil, therefore being called to meet the bridegroom, they came unprepared, which means they were called but not given the spirit. This is how we are in Babylon. The wise, on the other hand, came prepared having been given the spirit but are yet carnal babes in Christ until the cry is made and they are awakened. We do not know the hour the cry will come so we must always be prepared. Of course, it is the Lord Who prepares the heart.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

We are called to go into Babylon, next we are chosen to come out of Babylon, and finally we are given to endure until the end.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

The ten virgins who arose and trimmed their lamps represent receiving knowledge of the work which must be done to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Being called as one of the ten virgins and trimming their lamps is where most “Christians” are today. Here is where they are.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

The foolish virgins are able to trim their lamps but cannot produce any light because their lamps are gone out. This tells us that they do not believe what they have been told and that is judgment begins at the house of God. Not only this but they do not except that there is any judgment to begin with. The reason they do not believe this is because they are not given any oil. Their wick is lit, but it extinguishes immediately. The foolish take the word of God and twist it to mean something totally different. Here is an example.

Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luk 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Christians of the world are given to believe they will not face judgment. The reason they believe this is because they have no oil. The spirit is not in them.

Next the wise tell them what they must do.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

The wise know that they are not to share their oil and tell them to go on their way. The wise also know that if they were to give up any oil, their own lamps would go out. Their lamps are lit in the middle of the night, and they must stay lit until the fullness of the daylight comes. This represents our time being in these bodies of flesh until the redemption of the purchased possession.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The foolish go away to buy the oil they lack and miss out on the bridegroom coming.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

The door being shut symbolizes the division between the many called and few chosen, the old man and the new man, and those in the first resurrection and the second. These two groups are separated by Christ either knowing them or not knowing them.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

What does this mean? Christ says, “I know you not” because they were not prepared and then gives us the following warning.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Being called, chosen and faithful is the only way we can enter into the kingdom of Heaven. We must be given to be diligent in all we do until the end of our walking in these bodies of flesh. In the beginning we are the five virgins who have empty lamps that are turned away and eventually destroyed. If we endure until the end, we are the five virgins that have lamps full of oil and are able to have light throughout the night. Christ is our light, and as he is, so are we in this world.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

We hold the lamp (word/doctrines of Christ) in our hearts and minds.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

I have used the following scriptures in several studies, but it is a warning we must have continually.

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Gospels In Harmony – The Stone the Builder Rejected

Mat 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-18

[Study Aired June 15, 2021]

Mar 12:1a And he began to speak unto them by parables.Mat 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, Mar 12:1b for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
Mat 21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, Mar 12:2 he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
Mar 12:3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
Mar 12:4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
Luk 20:13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luk 20:14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
Mat 21:39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
Mar 12:9a What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? 
Mat 21:41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
Luk 20:16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
Mat 21:42a Jesus saith unto them, Luk 20:17a What is this then that is written, Mat 21:42b Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Mat 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
Mar 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

In this study Christ continues with another parable. These parables from our last few studies have a pattern to them. They are accusing the chief priests and the Pharisees of wrongdoing. Our last parable was about the two sons; one refusing to work the vineyard and then repenting, and the other agreeing to work and then not going to work it. As we know, these parables are telling us what is going on in our heavens, and each parable gives us more detail about the battle within the heavens of each of us.

The main details of this parable answer the following questions: Who is the stone, who seeks to kill him, and what is their judgment?

Psa 118:21-23 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

The stone is the head of the corner. Now who is the head of the corner?

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The above verses tell us that Christ is the “head of the corner stone”. They also tell us that the “corner stone” is the church. Continuing with our next question, “Who seeks to kill him?”

Mat 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

Mar 12:12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Remember, this is anyone who thinks they are in control of and rule themselves.

Isa 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

These people are the rulers of the religions of the world which we are still coming out from under while we are in the world. We must be reminded of this in order not to be deceived.

2Th 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The son of perdition is the son of our last parable who lied about going to work in the vineyard. In this parable the husbandmen are the “sons of perdition” which the chief priests and Pharisees perceived Christ was accusing them of being. The Lord tells them just as he did in the last parable that they will not be entering into the kingdom first but will be instead judged. Not that they are the only group judged. They don’t even believe they will be judged. Christ on the other hand has a different plan.

Jer 51:23-26 I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.

We are all guilty of killing Christ and His body. Christ is the truth, and denying the truth is the same as putting Christ to death. Here is the parable again, and notice that the householder is the Father, and Christ is the son, and the servants are Christ’s body.

Mar 12:1a And he began to speak unto them by parables.Mat 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, Mar 12:1b for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

Mat 21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, Mar 12:2 he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

Mar 12:3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
Mar 12:4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

Mar 12:5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

Luk 20:13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luk 20:14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

Mat 21:39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

As said above, Christ is the truth, and we are His Christ.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Our last question is, “What is the judgment of those who seek to kill Christ?”

Mat 21:41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

Luk 20:16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

Mat 21:42a Jesus saith unto them, Luk 20:17a What is this then that is written, Mat 21:42b Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mat 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Judgment is the destruction of the lies within us by being broken and ground to powder. We all must endure this judgment because we all have sought to kill Christ and His Christs by denying the truth. There is a reason why we kill Christ.

Joh 16:4-15 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Once the Comforter is sent to us, our lives begin to change. The elect, the publicans and harlots, begin this change now and the rest especially the chief priests and Pharisees are changed later. Judgment is now on the house of God, and we are become one with Christ and his Father.

1Pe 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

If we are give to endure this fiery trial, we will receive great rewards. Here is how we obtain this reward.

Eph 4:1-32 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

[Study Aired May 16, 2021]

Jer 9:1  Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer 9:2  Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
Jer 9:3  And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:4  Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Jer 9:5  And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Jer 9:6  Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:7  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?
Jer 9:8  Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Jer 9:9  Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Jer 9:10  For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Jer 9:11  And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.
Jer 9:12  Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

Jeremiah is the author of two books in the Bible, and both deal with the judgment of the Lord upon His people. There are fifty-two chapters of this prophecy of Jeremiah, and the other book written by this prophet is the book of Lamentations, which gives Jeremiah the title of ‘The weeping prophet’. We are just beginning the ninth chapter of this fifty-two-chapter prophecy. As we progress in this account of our judgment, those who are being judged in this present time will identify with all the rebellions and transgressions revealed to be in our flesh within the pages of this prophecy of our judgment in “this present time” (Rom 8:18). The description of the seven last plagues in Revelation 16 is a condensed version of the books of Jeremiah and the book of Lamentations.

Being given a part in the “blessed and holy… first resurrection” is the benefit and reward of enduring the seven last plagues of the Lord’s judgment upon the kingdom of the beast within each of us in “this present time”:

Isa 26:8  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Four times in Psalms 107 the Lord beseeches each of us to be grateful for being given eyes that see and ears that hear the details of our own judgment, which is now upon the Lord’s elect.

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD  for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

“His goodness” referred to here is the mercy He displays in the chastening He bestows upon us in the verses preceding these four verses.

This prophecy of Jeremiah demonstrates that the Lord chastens and scourges every son He receives (Heb 12:6).

For that reason, the weeping prophet continues his lamentation:

Jer 9:1  Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jer 9:2  Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

“Oh… that I might weep day and night for the daughter of my people” is the same spirit expressed by the apostle Paul when he said:

Rom 9:1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Rom 9:3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

In bewailing the condition of the Lord’s people and saying “Oh… that I might leave my people and go from them! For they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men” Jeremiah is essentially saying:

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

“All nations… and the kings of the earth” are all the idols of our hearts which separate us from our Lord. These include our closest associates and friends:

Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Receiving double according to our wicked works is known as:

Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

To what is the word “here” referring? What exactly is the patience of the saints and the faith of Jesus? The preceding verses are what the word “here” references:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

It is the “worship of the beast and his image, and… the mark of his name which ”lets [restrains]” the coming of Christ  within us:

2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [restrains] will let [restrain], until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy  with the brightness of his coming:

“Now you know” refers to the previous verses which speak of “the man of sin… the son of perdition” being revealed within the temple of God, which temple is the dominion of our hearts and minds:

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

What had Paul told these Thessalonians when he was with them? Paul’s gospel was consistent wherever he traveled and preached. He had told these Thessalonians the same exact same thing about the subject of the temple of God that he had told the Corinthian church about “the temple of God”, which was:

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,  which temple ye are.
1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The human body is the temple of God, and yet, by the Lord’s own design, it is first the temple where Satan’s throne is located:

Rev 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat [Greek: ‘thronos’, throne] is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

There it is. “Satan [first] dwells… among [us]. We “hold fast [Christ’s] name” even while we dwell where Satan’s throne is, which ‘throne’ is the dominion which first is given to Satan over our hearts and minds.

For that reason, Jeremiah continues revealing our own judgment:

Jer 9:3  And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

My own ‘process from evil to evil was from the blasphemous ‘God is love, sinners will burn in hell’ doctrine of mainstream Protestant Pentecostalism to the self-righteous, under-the-law doctrines of the ‘Armstrong-centric’ Worldwide Church of God, and from that insidious self-righteous harlot to the even more insidious and self-destructive greasy grace of the Concordant conferences. Every time we think we are making a step in the right direction in hindsight we look behind us and realize that we must:

Jer 9:4  Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Jer 9:5  And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

“They… will not speak the Truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies and weary themselves to commit iniquity” is accomplished through the greasy-grace doctrine being peddled by all the ecumenical seeking Christian denominations, both Protestant and Catholic, who subscribe to the mantra of “Agreement in the essentials; tolerance in the non-essentials; but love in all things.” Being the whores they all are, they will tell you what are “the essentials” and what are “the nonessentials”, and they will even tell you what their definition of the word ‘love’ is. Rest assured it is not in agreement with the scriptures which define love thusly:

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

While in the grip of the great harlot she must keep us from knowing that the love of God is defined as ‘keeping His commandments’ because His commandments belie her lying mantra of “Agreement in the essentials, tolerance in the non-essentials, and love in all things”.

It is impossible to love God and keep these commandments and remain faithful to the great whore and her daughters and their lying doctrines.

This is what Christ had to say about the ‘non-essentials’ of the Word of God.

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word  that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What part of this commandment to “live by every Word of God” is “non-essential”???

Here is another commandment which the apostle Paul “beseeches [us]” to keep and obey:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that  [1] ye all speak the same thing, and that [2] there be no divisions among you; but that [3] ye be perfectly joined together  in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

This commandment to be of “the same mind” is part of “every Word which proceeds out of the mouth of God.” It is repeated three other times in the New Testament:

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Php 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

Christ is not a legal ‘organization’ of men. Christ, like His Word, is a living spiritual organism which is:

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living, and potent, and sharper, above every two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division both of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and discernible of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“The Word of God” has discerned that “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” tell us we need denominations among us, while the voice of the True Shepherd commands us “that there be no divisions among you”. When the Lord’s flock is encouraged to do the exact opposite of what the Lord Himself commands us to do, then this is what Christ Himself commands us:

Joh 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow,  but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Here is a defense of the indefensible mantra of the ‘great harlot and her daughters’… “Unity in the essentials, tolerance in the non-essentials, love in all things” taken from this site which claims to be the best on the internet on the subject of Christian denominations:

https://www.christianvalour.com/christian-denominations-guide/#whatgetsyououtoftheclub

“What Gets You Out of The Club?

“How do we decide what is a legit Christian denomination, and what is not? After all, anyone can call themselves a Christian.

It comes down to a few core beliefs which are considered clear and fundamental teachings, according to the Bible, by the majority of Christian denominations.

Belief in Jesus, as I described above is one. The other is the doctrine of the trinity.

You may have heard the term before.

The word ‘trinity’ is not in the Bible.

However, the trinitarian view of God best describes the Bible’s words regarding the relationship between the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Generally speaking, it is the Bible’s teaching that there are three personal, unique persons, that make up the One Godhead.

They are God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.

Three persons – one God.

To deny that any one of them is God is to deny the Bible’s clear teaching about God.

This is what Christians have taught and believed since the very beginning of Christianity.

This is the universally understood nature of the Christian God that is common to all Christian denominations.

So we can say, based on what we’ve discussed, that a group or person is definitely not Christian if they:

1. Deny the trinity, especially if they…
2. Deny Christ’s Deity (and humanity) or they…
3. Deny God’s sovereignty, and finally if they…
4. Distort the Bible’s teaching in any way that, logically leads to a denial of 1, 2 or 3

These are not the only things, but they are super important. No true Christian group would deny any of these teachings.

So the next big question is, if all Christians believe in Jesus, and the Bible teaches us about him, why are there so many denominations?

To understand better the differences between Christian Denominations we need to understand a little bit of Christian history.” (End quote)

“No true Christian [denomination] would deny any of these teachings” is true because ‘denominations’ have no place in the body of Christ:

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1Co 1:11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Co 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

No, Christ is not divided, but those who believe in a trinitarian God are divided multiple thousands of times, witnessing against themselves that they do not know the Christ of scripture who taught:

Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

If the God head were indeed a trinity, then Jesus Christ Himself just slapped His so-called “equal” in the face by leaving him completely out of the picture in that statement.

The Catholic Encyclopedia confesses to changing the text of Matthew 28:19 from “in My name” to:

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Here are all the verses in the New Testament which mention the baptismal formula that was originally used by all the apostles. Not once is the holy spirit mentioned as being anything other than the gift of God, and that appears in the very first entry:

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Act 8:16 For as yet he was fallen upon none of them:  only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 10:48 And he [Peter] commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Act 22:16 And now why tarriest you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Rom 6:3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? [Posing this question implies that the baptismal formula of Acts was “In the name of the Lord Jesus” – Act 19:5]

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

In Acts 22:16 the apostle Paul poses the question, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” He did not tell these Ephesians to ‘call on the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’! What this demonstrates is that there is ONLY one name under heaven whereby we can be saved:

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

It is through the holy spirit of God that we are instructed: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ” (Act 2:38).

Yes, the scriptures clearly reveal that “the holy spirit” is not a person at all but is simply “the holy spirit of God”:

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

If there were a trinity should not Eph 4:30 read ‘And grieve not God, the holy spirit’ instead of “the holy spirit of God”? The fact is that the ‘holy spirit’ is never once referred to as a person. Using the pronoun ‘he’ does not make the holy spirit a person any more than referring to sin with the pronouns ‘his and him’ makes sin a person:

Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,  whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

If the holy spirit is equal with God, then why is he not coming to us of his own accord. Why must “the Father… send” him?

Yes, it is true, the apostles were physically baptizing disciples in the first few decades of the church. They simply had not yet been shown that the true and only baptism is:

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

We fail to realize that the apostles had to grow in the knowledge of the Lord just as any of us do. The sum of the Lord’s words reveals that the apostles were still offering blood offerings in the temple at Jerusalem decades after the ultimate sacrifice had been made:

Act 21:17  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act 21:18  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Act 21:19  And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Act 21:20  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
Act 21:21  And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Act 21:22  What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
Act 21:23  Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
Act 21:24  Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Act 21:25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Act 21:26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

It was “the holy spirit which made that decision that the Gentiles need not keep the law:

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Where were Christ and His Father at this time? The answer, of course is that Christ comes to us through the holy spirit, and “the holy spirit [is the spirit] of God” (Eph 4:30)!

The apostles were physically baptizing and still living under the law of Moses for the Jews because that was “the present Truth” for them at that time, as we are told there in Acts 15:28.

2Pe 1:12  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

The lie of a trinitarian God is an evil spirit sent to deceive mankind and keep them from coming to know Christ. This lie is the basis and foundation for many other false doctrines. Without the doctrine of a trinitarian God, there could be no trinitarian man with a mortal body of flesh and an immortal soul and an immortal spirit. Without an immortal soul, there could be no Godless eternal hell, or the most heinous and demonic doctrine of eternal torment in literal flames of fire. Yet many Christians will give up the pagan holiday of Christmas before they will relinquish their lying, monstrous, demonic doctrine of eternal hell fire.

I tell the true story of seeing a church marquee which read “God is love” and right under that statement the words “Sinners will burn in hell”.

All the false doctrines of the great harlot are the home of our old man. They are a lying habitation which must be burned up which brings us to the verse from which we took the title of today’s study:

Jer 9:6  Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel calls the false doctrines of the great harlot “briers and thorns and scorpions”:

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

It requires His loving chastening grace to judge us and burn all these lies out of each of us (Tit 2:11-12, and Heb 12:6):

Jer 9:7  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

“How shall I do for the daughter of My people?” Isaiah answers this question in no uncertain terms:

Isa 1:23  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

Like any loving Father, our Lord chastens and scourges us to forsake the kingdom of our old man:

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching (Greek: ‘paideuo’, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

That is what is required by the Lord’s design, because without the seven last plagues of the Lord’s wrath being poured out upon the kingdom of our old man, we are simply what we are made to be, which is:

Jer 9:8  Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
Jer 9:9  Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

“An arrow shot out” is a false doctrine which will tell you that “God is love” and in the same breath the moment you turn your back that same lying spirit is condemning you to eternal torment in literal flames of literal fire… “God is love… sinners will burn in hell.”

Jer 9:10  For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
Jer 9:11  And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

“Jerusalem… a den of dragons” is what is also said of those who are in Babylon:

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Not one minister in Babylon can understand that he must come out of his connection to this lying daughter of the “great red dragon”, as the next two verses of Revelation 18 demonstrate:

Rev 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,  Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Christ has chosen the weak, base and despised of this earth to give His wisdom and understanding:

Jer 9:12  Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

“Who is the wise man that may understand this…that…may declare it?” Daniel answers this question for us:

Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Contrast the closing of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament with the closing of the book of Revelation in the New Testament:

Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

The ends of the ages have come upon us:

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

That is our study for today, and here are the verses for our next study:

Jer 9:13  And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;
Jer 9:14  But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
Jer 9:15  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Jer 9:16  I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.
Jer 9:17  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:
Jer 9:18  And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.
Jer 9:19  For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.
Jer 9:20  Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.
Jer 9:21  For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.
Jer 9:22  Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.
Jer 9:23  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 9:25  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

Jer 9:26  Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

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Isa 62:1-6 I Have Set Watchmen Upon Your Walls O Jerusalem

[Study Aired July 5, 2020]

Isa 62:1  For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Isa 62:2  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Isa 62:3  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
Isa 62:4  Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Isa 62:5  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isa 62:6  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

The first verses that came to my mind in picking the title for today’s study were:

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

“Oversee… [watch] all the [Lord’s] flock… therefore watch” and be the “watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem”. This warning and this commission here in Isaiah has little to do with world affairs. Those who oversee the Lord’s flock are watching out for “men who speak perverse things” and bring to us the necessary “heresies among you”:

1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

As I have demonstrated many times, it is typical of Hebrew writers to state the same thing twice using two different items or names to make their point. When we read:

Gen 48:2  And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

It is obvious that ‘Jacob’ and ‘Israel’ are one and the same person.

When Isaiah says:

Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

It is again obvious that ‘Sodom’ and ‘Gomorrah’ are speaking of one and same peoples.

Likewise, when we read in the first verse of this chapter of Isaiah:

Isa 62:1  For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

It is again obvious that ‘Zion’ and ‘Jerusalem’ are again the same people of God.

However, there is a process which ‘Zion’ must endure before she is made righteous.  The fact is that the words ‘Sodom’ and ‘Gomorrah’ are also two more names which refer to Zion as the great Harlot which she must acknowledge herself to be, and of which she must repent before her “righteousness goes forth as brightness and [her] salvation… as a lamp that burns.”

The Truth is that the words, “Ye rulers of Sodom; [and] ye people of Gomorrah” in the introduction to this Isaiah prophecy is also addressed to Judah, Jerusalem and Zion, all types of us as the Lord’s special people.

Let’s return to the first chapter of this prophecy and just look at how the Lord addresses us as His own people:

Isa 1:1  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

“Judah and Jerusalem” typify the Lord’s elect, but notice closely how the Lord’s elect first appear to Him in His perception of what he first made us to be:

Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

Israel, Judah and Jerusalem are all types of the Lord’s chosen people of Zion, as we see here in chapter 62 where we are being shown the glorious end product of our fiery trials, and where we are being made to know what is the “redemption of the purchased possession” and what is meant by “to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ”:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Look at how Paul speaks of our own beginnings. Just as the holy spirit revealed that “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” was required in Isaiah’s prophecy of Israel, Paul, too, was moved of the same single-minded holy spirit to make us to know that we also, being the true “Israel of God” (Gal 5:16), are first, by our Maker’s design, servants of “the prince of the power of the air”. We, too, must first be the sons “of [our] father the devil” (Joh 8:44):

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Gal 6:15  Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.
Gal 6:16  Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God. (GWV)

Joh 8:44  You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn’t know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he’s doing what comes naturally to him. He’s a liar and the father of lies. (GWV)

Here we have Christ telling the “Jews that believed on Him” (Joh 8:30-31) they are “of [their] father the devil”. The church of Christ’s day, represents the churches of our day who profess Christ but hate His doctrines. Then we have the apostle Paul, speaking under the inspiration of the same holy spirit, tell us, “We all…were…by nature…the children of wrath even as [all] others.” Then Paul informs us that because God has “predestinated us” to be “to the praise of His glory” that we are now seated with Him in the heavens (Eph 2:6). How is it possible for us to have been “as others, walking according to the… prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience… fulfilling the desires of the flesh… by nature the children of wrath” and yet now be seated “with [Christ] in the heavens” (Eph 2:6)? The answer is that it is all the predestinated work of His own hands fulfilling what He promised to us “before the world began”:

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

“The first man, Adam”, as death-bound, earthy, marred and corruptible as he is, still typifies “the last Adam… a life-giving spirit”:

1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

We need to notice that it does not say ‘The first man Adam was made a living soul; Jesus Christ was made a quickening’. While that is certainly true, it does not make the point the holy spirit is making, and it doesn’t make the point the holy spirit wants us to understand, which is:

Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth [Christ] and they who are sanctified [all mankind] are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Now look at the preceding verse:

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

“Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things” is “not ashamed to call [us His] brothers”. That is how He sees us, and that is how He wants us to see Him. He is not ashamed of us. We are “His workmanship”, His brothers. We are the work of His hands, and He identifies with us:

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16  For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Christ made us as we are, and to demonstrate His love for us He emptied Himself of the glory He had with His Father, and took on Himself the seed of Abraham and became subject unto death.

Php 2:7 but did empty himself, the form of a servant having taken, in the likeness of men having been made,
Php 2:8 and in fashion having been found as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death–death even of a cross, (REV)

It was He who made “the first man Adam”. Of what character and composition are we made by Him?

This is what we are told about what this “first man Adam” is:

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

This how Jeremiah makes this same point:

Jer 18:1  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2  Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

“The vessel He made of clay was marred in the Potter’s hand”, because, as Ephesians two explains:

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [in the Potter’s hand]
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature [“In the hands of the Potter”] the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Did any of us vote to be “dead in trespasses and sin”? Of course, we did not ‘vote’ to be “dead in trespasses and sins.” Instead we all “by nature… fulfill the desires of the flesh and the [carnal] mind” whether we wanted to do so or not. We are all “by nature… dead in sins”, and yet the Lord has taken a chosen few in this present time (Rom 8:18) and “made us to sit together in the heavens”.

We have all been led by the great whore and her daughters to believe that “the first man Adam” was a perfected creation of God. We have all been lied to and led to believe that Adam and Eve, of their own free will, rebelled against God and plunged all mankind into a fallen state. Nothing could be further from the truth. “The fall of man” is not a Biblical phrase, nor is it a Biblical doctrine, and yet I have heard a very well known man with an international TV ministry say, “The first thing I am going to do at the resurrection is to walk right up to Adam and punch him in the nose.” This minister and many, many others believe that God Created mankind in a state of perfection from which Adam fell when His listened to his wife who had taken her instructions from the fallen serpent.

The fact is that God, our Creator and Maker, can make us any way He pleases, both in the garden of Eden and right this moment as He continues here in Jeremiah 18 to explain to His adulterous wife, Israel:

Jer 18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

It is therefore by our Maker’s decree that we are all, as were our original parents, Adam and Eve, “made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected the same in hope”:

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

“Subjected… the creature… to vanity… in hope” does not mean that the Lord hopes in vain to save a few of mankind from death and destruction. Remember, what the Lord wants or hopes for is exactly what He gets!

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Does the Lord tell us what He desires for mankind? Yes, He does, and He tells us over and over again:

1Ti 2:4  Who [Christ] will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Does “specially of those that believe” mean ‘exclusively of those that believe’? Absolutely not!

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins [the sins of believers]: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. [The whole unbelieving world]

The Lord tells us that He is in fact using the unbelief of most of mankind for the occasion He is seeking to keep the vast majority of mankind spiritually deaf and spiritually blind, “lest He should heal them and they should be converted.”

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

The Lord revealed to the apostle Paul that He intended to use a very select few as the channel and conduit through which He “will have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth.”

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

In the end, the Lord will “have mercy upon all”, but that mercy of God will come “through your mercy”. In the interim both His elect and the masses of mankind are predestinated to have an experience of evil and misery, groaning and travailing in pain together until now:

Ecc 1:13 I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it.

This “experience of evil… given to the sons of humanity” by the Lord Himself, is the same as being “made subject unto vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who subjected the same in hope” as we read earlier:

Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

“The bondage of corruption” is these bodies of sinful flesh and blood which are defined in those very terms:

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Let us go back to the first chapter of Isaiah where we read earlier in this study the Lord tells us that we have “rebelled against Him”:

Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

It is in this state of “the bondage of corruption” (Rom 8:21) and rebellion (Isa 1:2) the Lord first begins to speak to us as it was revealed in the first chapter of this prophecy of Isaiah:

Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider
Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Isa 1:8  And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
Isa 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Isa 1:10  Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

It is from that sad state in chapter one, having become “a harlot” (Isa 1:21), that the Lord drags us out of that great harlot through ‘falling seven times’ (Pro 24:16), through being tormented day and night in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb (Rev 14:8-12), and by our fulfilling the seven last plagues of the wrath of God (Rev 15:7-8), to the glorious blessing of:

Isa 62:2  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
Isa 62:3  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

The Lord reveals all these glorious blessings to us because He knows we need to be encouraged, and lifted up and built up in the spirit.

Isa 62:4  Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

‘Hephzibah’ means:

H2657
חֶפְצִי בָּהּ
chephtsı̂y bâhh
khef-tsee’ baw
From H2656 with suffixes; my delight (is) in her; Cheptsibah, a fanciful name for Palestine: – Hephzi-bah.

‘Beulah’ means:

H1166
בָּעַל
bâ‛al
baw-al’
A primitive root; to be master; hence (as denominative from H1167) to marry: – Beulah have dominion (over), be husband, marry (-ried, X wife).

“Beulah… Your land shall be married” tells us this:

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

The marriage union is but a type and shadow of Christ and the church:

Eph 5:22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

As the wife of our Lord, we must call Him our Lord and obey His doctrines:

Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

If we do what our Lord tells us to do, then we will “know of the doctrine” whether it is of the Lord or of men.

Joh 7:17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Isa 62:5  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

This is one more verse which demonstrates that in scripture a son of God is also the bride of Christ, just as Christ is both the son of God, and at the same time submits to His father “as unto the Lord” as his head (Eph 5:22 quoted above) and:

1Co 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

“The head of Christ is God” does not reveal a trinity. What it does reveal is that Christ’s Father is also His husband to whom He submits as a wife to her husband.

Joh 14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

We are called “the sons of God”:

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

At the same time, we are told we are “espoused to one husband… Christ”.

Like our Lord we are both a son and a wife, and in the spirit that is no contradiction at all.

Isa 62:6  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

We are “a chaste virgin espoused to one husband” (2Co 11:2), we are “sons of God” (1Jo 3:1-2), we are shepherds and bishops of the Lord’s flock (Act 20:28). We are spiritual soldiers in the Lord’s spiritual army (2Ti 2:4), and we find that we are also “watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem” and are expected to be ever vigilant and sober and diligent to watch over the Lord’s flock as Paul warned the Ephesian elders:

Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

“Overseers” are “watchmen” who the Lord has placed “on the walls of Jerusalem… [to oversee His flock. The Lord’s true watchmen] shall never hold their peace day nor night: [If we] make mention of the LORD, [we will] keep not silence”.

We have all fallen to the wiles of men arising and speaking perverse things while in Babylon, but we have also “of [our] own selves [had] men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves”.

There is one reason and one reason only why we ourselves are not taken in by such “men… speaking perverse things”, and that one reason is this:

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jacob treated Esau worse than Esau treated Jacob. King David’s sins against Uriah and Bathsheba and against Israel were greater than the sins of King Saul. Yet the Lord had already decided who would and who would not be written in His book. These things are types of us in that we take credit for nothing, and yet we can take great comfort and encouragement knowing what is the mind of God and His love toward us.

That is our study for today. Here are our verses for our next study:

Isa 62:7  And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Isa 62:8  The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
Isa 62:9  But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
Isa 62:10  Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Isa 62:11  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isa 62:12  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.